I didn’t want to go to my quarters. What was I going to do? Carry on meetings as usual? It would be another few days before we would put Laoise to rest, and I wouldn’t be able to handle mundane matters. My girls . . .
I can’t do this.
Why is it so hard to breathe?
Everything in my chest tightened and I stopped, breathing in and out deeply.
“Your majesty.” Tallis gently placed a hand on my elbow, nudging me to continue. Of course, I would have to because I was queen and though my heart was shattered, our people still needed to be ruled and if Kyros wasn’t here, I’d be forced to deal with our people alone.
Though he may not love me as he once did, how could he fly off as if nothing has happened?
“Are there any couriers here today?” I stroked the cat in my arms, thankful for the soft comfort that seemed to steady my breathing.
“There are two farmers,” Tallis replied, falling in step behind me. “Nothing we can’t have the chamberlain handle in the king’s absence.”
“I don’t think I can deal with this today.”
“Then don’t. Close the castle to requests.”
“How can we do that without the king here?”
“We will send out a decree stating the royal family is in mourning and no requests will be received until a fortnight. It is not unheard of.”
“Yes,” I nodded, feeling a slight reprieve. “Yes, that would do just fine. You may go.”
Tallis glared at me. “And leave you to walk the halls alone?”
I held the cat in my arms a little tighter. “Am I not safe to do so? Do you think someone will attack the queen in the middle of the day?”
His jaw ticked. He stepped closer, looking down at me. “I will escort you to your room. Once your guards are there. I will do as you ask.”
His desire to keep me safe had been something I had never grown tired of. I nodded, thankful to have a friend by my side.
As we turned the corner, Kyros’ human mistresses were there walking arm-in-arm, whispering. The dark-haired triplets had been a thorn in my side since the day they arrived one year ago with their cultish ways and strange alchemy. They had clung to the king like a trio of leeches, and he had been enthralled by their hypnotic beauty and seductive nature, leaving my chambers to spend his nights in theirs.
All at once they stopped what they were doing, noticing me in their presence.
The bolder one in the middle, Stephani, lowered her head, her two sisters doing the same. “Your majesty, our condolences. Laoise was very loved.”
I didn’t have the strength to deal with them. Yes, my relationship with the king had waned before they arrived, but the last time his lips had even touched mine had been after we lost our first daughter, months after the witches arrived at the castle. They came as healers pretending to have potions to slow his dragon sickness when really they came to stick their claws in him and steal his love away from me. We knew little about dragons and this strange disease that seemed to whittle their mind, fragmenting memories and more. The king and I might have had a chance at rekindling what we once had if the witches never arrived.
I gave a slight nod, not wanting to say anymore.
“My queen,” the sister on the left side, who had a scar through her left eyebrow, Bianca, spoke. “We know this is a difficult time for the royal family and we are here to offer any services as possible. We’ve spoken to the priests about officiating the funeral for Laoise.”
“You will do no such thing.” My voice rose and Ruffles scrambled out of my arms. I marched forward, Tallis a step behind me. “I don’t want you or your twisted sisters anywhere near my daughter.” I paused, dropping all decorum, finally calling them what they were. “Witches are forbidden on our sacred grounds.”
Bianca gasped as if she didn’t already know how much I despised her. The only reason the three of them even lived here was because I did not want to stir the king’s wrath.
“I think it’s best if you leave the castle,” I added. “We are mourning.”
“The king would not like that,” Stephani said, her dark gaze glaring at me.
“The king is not here. And in his stead, I am queen, and you will do what I say.”
“You don’t have the authority!” Bianca squawked. “King Kyros has made it clear we belong to him.”
“That’s enough.” Tallis stepped around me, gently pressing me behind him. The three sisters shrank back, not wanting to deal with the Violent Wind. The surrounding air moved, lifting their hair as an unnatural breeze filled the corridor, pushing them back. Tallis’ power crackled around us, taunting them to disobey. “The Queen has given you a command. You will do as she says. I will have my men escort you to one of the king’s private estates in the eastern woods and when the King returns, if he desires your company, we will retrieve you.”
